Chicago's Shedd Aquarium

Being a mom is hard. I don't say that to be trite or patronizing or condescending. It's just the truth.

It is especially difficult when you have to discipline. Even worse when the threat you have to follow through on means you have to give up something you really really want.

So, when I threatened that we wouldn't go to Shedd Aquarium in the morning if the girls didn't stop talking and settle down for bed, knowing how much we all wanted to go, I didn't think I'd have to carry out my threat.

I did.

They didn't go to sleep until almost 10pm. Aside from the fact that I was frustrated they were STILL talking at 9:30 at night, and that I had to tell them we weren't going and hear them cry (and my heart wasn't broken at this point because I was so frustrated and angry with them for not settling down), I was also upset because I didn't know how to extract myself from enforcing this punishment.

I made them work it off.

They had to finish ALL their chores, homework, and even clean out the van. I think they actually had more fun than I did doing their "make-up" work. Oh well. I got a clean van and still got to go to the aquarium. It turned into a win-win situation.

We got the aquarium in record time. It wasn't very windy (which is almost unheard of in the "Windy City") and so we opted to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather by eating our lunch outside. I LOVE my picnic backpack (but not as much as I love the second one I helped my friend make). It holds EVERYTHING I could want on a picnic! We had fresh bread, cheese, plums, mini colored peppers, and juice pouches. The bread also fed the seagulls...




Because the dolphins were being observed (a baby dolphin had died within 24 hours of its birth; unknown cause) there was no "Dolphin Show" just a Beluga demonstration. It was still fun. It was especially exciting to see Veronica get into the action and observe and participate.

We then walked through the AWESOME Jellyfish exhibit they had. It was so amazing to see tiny baby jellyfish. Their lifecycle is really cool! Maybe we'll study that for Megan's project at Kennedy when they ask us to focus on an animal... Here's a video Zoë took of them:

We then headed down to the lower level and to the penguin play place. They have little penguin suits for kids to wear and this rock-like playground for kids to run out. All 4 girls had a great time. It's definitely Miranda's favorite, but the other girls loved it almost as much!










It was REALLY hard to get a shot of all 4 girls. Miranda was jumping around the lighting was poor, and they really just wanted to go do something else. Still, I got a couple of all 4 girls.


It was really a blessed trip. We got there at the right time, and got home (eating CiCi's pizza on the way) at a decent hour. It was a 10-hour round trip, with only half that being driving time. The girls behaved BEAUTIFULLY and we all had a really good time.

These are the times when I love being a mom! even if it is hard other times.